Good evening Dan, this is just a quick question. I guess you missed it on the end of your "friendly wager" thread. Please ignore that one (had some typos, not as refined, etc.).

What kind of drill was this, just a voice test, or a data test? Let me post part of your reply from another thread:

"Here it is: Transducers translate the actual current and voltage magnitudes into analog quantities. Those quantities are then translated to the remote transmitting unit, which then sends the data over a fiber optic system (which has its own controls). The fiber system transmits the data to a computer program which displays the values on a screen."

I'm wondering if a voice backup can keep up with changes in power requirements. The above system sounds pretty quick. I read one of the news stories that said the guys involved it the drill were "enjoying" doing it manually, reading meters and writing stuff down. Will they have to sit there, stare at a meter, and call in changes to a dispatcher?

Also, if this is a data backup, can it keep up with fiber, or isn't the speed that critical?

This area isn't my bag, but I am concerned. I'm just trying to figure out what the drill really did. Thanks for your input! <:)=

-- Sysman (y2kboard@yahoo.com), April 11, 1999

Answers

Hello Sysman...I did see your question on the other thread.

The transducer thing was merely an example of how complex power system controls are, and wasn't really intended to apply to the drill.

Here's the scoop on the drill (I assume you've read the NERC stuff, so I'll tell you what power companies did).

One example: Loss of primary communication from control center to a power plant: Tell the operator in the control center that he is no longer receiving data over the primary link (this could be an external phone line or microwave link). Ask him what he is supposed to do. Verify that he knows how to use the backup communications (direct dial to the power plant control room, or in the future, use a satellite phone) and gathers the necessary data to continue smooth control of power plant outputs, and enters it into the EMS properly. This backup method might be referred to as a manual way of operating the system. This is rather simplified, but it should give you a flavor of the kinds of things we did. We also tested backup comm to adjacent power companies, and to regional grid security coordinators.

There are numerous other examples, more details to follow...I'd give you more, but alas, I must put my children to bed.

Dan.

-- Dan (dgman19938@aol.com), April 11, 1999.

That level of drill just "tests" the telephone system, under current conditions, using automated power production and regulation - there is no integrated testing of anything or any controls.

It (manual controls) works for a few minutes - try it for several days of "just" watching the gage - been there, done that, it's extremely difficult and very, very slow responding to emergencies and system failures - up and downstream - of the manual-controlled function.

-- Robert A Cook, PE (Kennesaw, GA) (Cook.R@csaatl.com), April 12, 1999.